Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma and their anti-inflammatory activities.METHODS The extract from Asteris Radix et Rhizoma was isolated and purified by column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.Their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by RAW264.7 model.RESULTS Thirteen compounds were isolated and identified as(Z)-9,10,11-trihydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid(1),tianshic acid(2),6,6-dimethyl-2-methlenebicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-O-(6-O-apiofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside(3),ent-16β,17-dihydroxy-kauran-19-oic acid(4),ent-17-hydroxy-19-kauranoic acid(5),7β,17-dihydroxy-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid 19-O-β-D-glucopyranoside ester(6),paniculoside Ⅳ(7),thomimarine A(8),cyclo-(S-Pro-R-Leu)(9),4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid 1-methyl ether(10),methyl 3,5-di-O-caffeoyl quinate(11),5-acetyl-3β-hydroxy-2β-(1-hydroxyisopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofurane(12),4-ally-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl glucoside(13).Compounds 1 and 3-12 had inhibition on the release of NO in RAW264.7 cells,and 4-6,8,10-12 were better than the positive control.CONCLUSION Compounds 1,6,8-9 are isolated from Compositae family for the first time,and 2-5,7,10 and 11-13 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 1,3-12 have anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective To explore the application effect of foot massage based on the brain-gut axis theory in patients with spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and suffering from insomnia,and to provide references for improving patients' sleep quality and gastrointestinal symptoms.Methods A total of 88 patients with spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and suffering from insomnia,who were treated at a Blood Purification Center of a tertiary-A general hospital in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province from April to September 2024,were selected as a study subjects.They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group using the random number table method,with 44 cases in each group.The experimental group received foot massage based on the guidance of the brain-gut axis theory in addition to conventional treatment and nursing care,while the control group received conventional treatment and nursing care only.The intervention lasted for 3 months.The differences in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)scores,Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale(GSRS)scores,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,and serum 5-hydroxytryptamine and melatonin levels between the 2 groups before and after the intervention were compared.Results During the study period,no cases were lost in the experimental group,while 5 cases were lost in the control group.Ultimately,44 cases were included in the experimental group and 39 cases in the control group.After the intervention,the PSQI scores,GSRS scores,and TCM syndrome scores in both groups were lower than those before the intervention,and those in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group.The serum 5-hydroxytryptamine and melatonin levels were higher than those before the intervention,and the levels in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(all P＜0.001).Conclusion Foot massage based on the brain-gut axis theory can improve gastrointestinal symptoms and TCM syndromes in patients with spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and suffering from insomnia,and enhance their sleep quality.

Objective:To analyze the expression of serum lysyl oxidase like protein 4(LOXL4)and protein tyrosine phosphatase non receptor type 3(PTPN3)in patients with colorectal cancer and their relationship with postoperative liver metastasis.Methods:Totally 137 patients with colorectal cancer who visited Qingdao Central Hospital,University of Health and Rehabilitation Science from April 2017 to December 2019 were recruited as the cancer group.Complying with whether liver metastasis occurred during the follow-up period of 5 years,the patients were classified into the liver metastasis group(27 cases)and the non liver metastasis group(110 cases).Another 137 healthy individuals who underwent physical check ups were recruited as the control group.The qRT-PCR method was used to detect the ex-pression levels of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs.The serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs were compared under dif-ferent clinical pathological data,and the pathological data of liver metastasis group and non liver metastasis group were compared.Cox regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of postoperative liver metastasis in pa-tients with colorectal cancer.ROC curve was used to explore the predictive value of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 for postoperative liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.Results:Compared with the control group,the can-cer group had higher levels of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs expression(P<0.05).Compared with patients with medium to high differentiation,infiltration depth≤1/2 muscle layer,and TNM stage I-II,patients with low differentia-tion,infiltration depth>1/2 muscle layer,and TNM stage III had higher levels of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs ex-pression(P<0.05).Compared with the non liver metastasis group,the liver metastasis group had higher levels of se-rum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs expression(P<0.05).High expression of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs were risk factors for liver metastasis after colorectal cancer surgery(P<0.05).Compared with the single prediction of serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs,the AUC of serum LOXL4 combined with PTPN3 in predicting postoperative liver metasta-sis in colorectal cancer patients was higher(P<0.05).Conclusion:Serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs expression lev-els are abnormally elevated in patients with colorectal cancer,which is related to the deterioration of pathological data such as differentiation degree,infiltration depth,and TNM staging.Elevated serum LOXL4 and PTPN3 mRNAs expres-sion levels may increase the risk of postoperative liver metastasis in patients,and the combination has higher predic-tive value for postoperative liver metastasis.

Feline herpesvirus type Ⅰ(FHV-1)was used as the vector.The gI and gE genes of FHV-1 were replaced with the feline calicivirus(FCV)VP1 gene and the red fluorescent protein(mCherry)gene by CRISPR/Cas9 systems and homologous recombination technology,and the re-combinant virus strain FHV △gI&gE/VP1-mCherry+was successfully rescued.The recombinant virus strain was purified by plaque assay.The biological characteristics and genetic stability of the recombinant virus were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay,plaque morphological anal-ysis,and PCR.The results of the indirect immunofluorescence identification showed that the re-combinant virus FHV △gI&gE/VP1-mCherry+could express the VP1 protein in F81 cells,and the growth characteristics of the recombinant virus were not significantly different from those of the parent virus FHV-1.The plaque morphology and staining results indicated that the area of the plaque formed by the recombinant virus was smaller than that of the parent virus,suggesting that the spread ability of the recombinant virus between cells was reduced after the deletion of the gI and gE genes.The result of PCR showed that the VP1 gene could still be detected after 15 succes-sive passages of the recombinant virus,indicating that the recombinant virus had good genetic stability.In this study,the recombinant virus strain expressing the FCV VP1 protein was successfully prepared,which will lay a foundation for the development of engineered FCV and FHV-1 vaccine.

Objective:To compare the clinical and imaging characteristics of eyes with idiopathic focal choroidal excavation (FCE) and acquired FCE, and to preliminarily analyze the association of FCE with different fundus diseases.Methods:A retrospective clinical study. A total of 90 patients (93 eyes) diagnosed with FCE at the Ophthalmology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to May 2024 were included in the study. All affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography, and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). SS-OCT was used to measure subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness at the temporal, nasal, and inferior margins of the FCE, as well as the maximum width and depth of the FCE. Based on the presence of concomitant fundus diseases, FCE cases were divided into an idiopathic FCE group (51 eyes) and an acquired FCE group (42 eyes). Clinical characteristics at the initial and final visits were compared between the two groups. Clinical features were also analyzed for acquired FCE eyes with different associated fundus diseases. A logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors for FCE coexisting with other fundus diseases.Results:Compared to the idiopathic FCE group, the acquired FCE group had significantly decreased BCVA ( Z=?8.290), significantly increased FCE width ( Z=?2.762), and significantly higher incidence rates of saucer-shaped FCE ( χ2=8.352) and ellipsoid zone disruption ( χ2=7.999). These differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, gender distribution, IOP, foveal involvement, proportion of conforming FCE, retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch’s membrane rupture, presence of hyperreflective material under the excavation, presence of surrounding thick vessels, FCE depth, SFCT, or choroidal thickness at the inferior, temporal, and nasal margins of the FCE ( P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that FCE width (odds ratio=1.002, 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.004, P=0.005) was the sole risk factor for FCE coexisting with other fundus complications. In both the idiopathic and acquired FCE groups, FCE depth and width remained relatively stable during follow-up. BCVA improved in the acquired FCE group after treatment. Conclusions:FCE can coexist with various fundus diseases. FCE width is the only risk factor for the development of other fundus complications in FCE-affected eyes. Treating retinal or choroidal diseases associated with acquired FCE can provide visual benefits to patients.

Feline herpesvirus type Ⅰ(FHV-1)was used as the vector.The gI and gE genes of FHV-1 were replaced with the feline calicivirus(FCV)VP1 gene and the red fluorescent protein(mCherry)gene by CRISPR/Cas9 systems and homologous recombination technology,and the re-combinant virus strain FHV △gI&gE/VP1-mCherry+was successfully rescued.The recombinant virus strain was purified by plaque assay.The biological characteristics and genetic stability of the recombinant virus were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay,plaque morphological anal-ysis,and PCR.The results of the indirect immunofluorescence identification showed that the re-combinant virus FHV △gI&gE/VP1-mCherry+could express the VP1 protein in F81 cells,and the growth characteristics of the recombinant virus were not significantly different from those of the parent virus FHV-1.The plaque morphology and staining results indicated that the area of the plaque formed by the recombinant virus was smaller than that of the parent virus,suggesting that the spread ability of the recombinant virus between cells was reduced after the deletion of the gI and gE genes.The result of PCR showed that the VP1 gene could still be detected after 15 succes-sive passages of the recombinant virus,indicating that the recombinant virus had good genetic stability.In this study,the recombinant virus strain expressing the FCV VP1 protein was successfully prepared,which will lay a foundation for the development of engineered FCV and FHV-1 vaccine.

Objective:To understand the current status of epidemiological investigation task force construction and the performance of infectious disease epidemic response in county (district) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China, analyze the influencing factors and provide scientific evidence to improve the construction of grassroot epidemiological investigation task force.Methods:A survey was conducted in epidemiological investigation staff in county (district) CDCs in 31 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in China. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information based on the epidemiological dynamic data collection platform of China CDC. A descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted, and multiple linear regression models were used to identify the factors associated with the performance of infectious disease epidemic response.Results:A total of 24 934 epidemiological investigation task force members from 2 897 county (district) CDCs were surveyed in the study. In the epidemiological investigation task force, women, those with bachelor's degree and public health workers accounted for 62.46%, 71.36%, and 49.05% respectively. Up to 91.72% of the task force members had participated in field epidemic response. The average score of awareness of epidemic investigation procedures was 60.00, while the average score of key skill proficiency in the investigation was 42.22. The epidemic response performance showed correlations with area, gender, age, education level, major, and field epidemiology training programs, those who had received longer training showed higher competency scores (all P<0.001). Conclusions:Progress has been made in the construction of epidemiological investigation task force in grass-root CDCs in China, but further improvements are needed, especially in the knowledge awareness and investigation skills of the task force. Field epidemiology training demonstrated substantial impact on the improvement of epidemic response performance, indicating that it is necessary to further strengthen the training in grassroot public health workers for the better response to infectious disease epidemics.

Objective:To observe the imaging features of extramacular retinoschisis (EMRS) and paravascular abnormalities (PVA) in myopic patients, and preliminary analyze the differences in age, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT).Methods:A cross-sectional clinical study. A total of 60 myopia patients with EMRS who were admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2023 to June 2024 were included in the study. There were 18 male cases with 18 eyes and 42 female cases with 42 eyes. Age was (37.57±17.14) years; SE was (-10.76±4.66) D; AL was (28.36±1.87) mm. According to the characteristics of ultra-wide-angle optical coherence tomography images, PVA was divided into perivascular cysts (PC), perivascular microfolds (PM) and perivascular lamellar holes (PLH). According to the splitting level, EMRS can be divided into inner layer, middle layer and outer layer. According to SE, the affected eyes were divided into low myopia group, moderate myopia group and high myopia group. The occurrence of EMRS near optic disc, supratemporal, suprasal and subnasal, as well as the clinical characteristics of patients with EMRS at different locations, levels and forms of PVA were observed. Age, BCVA, SE, AL and SFCT of EMRS patients at different locations and levels were compared by independent sample t test. χ2 test or Fisher exact probability test were used to compare the categorical variables between groups. Results:In 60 eyes, EMRS were located in supratemporal, infratemporal, supranasal, subnasal, and paratopic discs in 36, 43, 15, 13, and 14 eyes, respectively. The EMRS in the inner and outer layers were 59 (98.3%, 59/60) and 35 (58.3%, 35/60) eyes, respectively. PVA was present in 47 eyes (78.3%, 47/60). Among them, PC, PM and PLH were 45, 39 and 18 eyes, respectively. The age of those with paratopic splitting was older than those without paratopic splitting ( t=2.720). Those with temporal splitting had worse BCVA and longer AL than those without splitting ( t=2.139, 2.119). Those with subnasal splitting had worse BCVA, higher myopia, longer AL and thinner SFCT than those without splitting. The differences were statistically significant ( t=2.926, -2.640, 2.635, -3.938; P<0.05). Compared with other types of EMRS, patients with inner EMRS had younger age ( t=-2.383), better BCVA ( t=-4.825), shorter AL ( t=-4.767), lower myopia ( t=4.791), and thicker SFCT ( t=4.791); patients with full-layer EMRS were older ( t=2.419), worse BCVA ( t=3.656), longer AL ( t=2.677), higher degree of myopia ( t=-2.755), and thinner SFCT ( t=-3.283), with statistical significance ( P<0.05). There was significant difference in SFCT among patients with or without PC ( t=-2.396, P<0.05). Compared with eyes without PM and PLH, eyes with PM had worse BCVA, longer AL, higher myopia, and thinner SFCT, and the differences were statistically significant (PM: t=2.514, 3.078, -2.811, -4.205; P<0.05; PLH: t=2.514, 2.992, -2.949, -1.773; P<0.05). Conclusions:EMRS primarily occurs in the temporal side, with the highest frequency in the inner layer. Patients with inner-layer EMRS are younger, have better BCVA, shorter AL, lower myopia, and thicker SFCT, whereas patients with full-layer EMRS exhibit the opposite characteristics.

Objective:To compare and observe the fundus imaging characteristics of eyes with glucocorticoid-related central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. A total of 149 CSC patients with 166 eyes diagnosed at Department of Ophthalmology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to October 2024 were included in the study. The duration of the disease from the appearance of symptoms to treatment was less than 3 months. All affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus color photography, swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) examinations. BCVA was tested using an international standard vision chart and converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical analysis. The SS-OCT instrument measured subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), central macular thickness (CMT), choroidal vascular volume (CVV), and the width and height of flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment (FIPED). FIPED, subretinal fibrin, and choroidal layer strong reflective spots were identified from SS-OCTA B-scan images; multiple leakages (leak points >3) were identified from FFA images. Based on the presence or absence of a clear history of glucocorticoid administration before the onset, patients were divided into glucocorticoid-related and non-glucocorticoid-related groups, comprising 41 patients with 53 eyes and 108 patients with 113 eyes, respectively. Clinical and fundus imaging characteristics of the two groups were compared. The comparison of quantitative data between the two groups was performed using independent samples t test or non-parametric independent samples Wilcoxon test; the comparison of qualitative data was performed using χ2 test. Results:Compared with the non-glucocorticoid-related group, the glucocorticoid-related group had a smaller male-to-female ratio and a higher bilateral incidence, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.925, 17.849; P<0.05). The logMAR BCVA for the glucocorticoid-related and non-glucocorticoid-related groups were 0.45±0.33 and 0.21±0.21, respectively; SFCT were (644.43±131.91) and (507.26±121.79) μm; CMT were (389.51±233.45) and (362.59±140.85) μm; CVV were (4.44±1.07) and (3.67±0.82) mm 3; FIPED incidence were 58.49% (31/58) and 20.35% (23/113), respectively; FIPED width and height were (1 122.01±533.98) and (742.90±388.79) μm, and (99.13±92.17) and (33.01±15.99) μm; subretinal fibrin were observed in 24 (45.28%, 24/53) and 15 (13.27%, 15/113) eyes; choroidal strong reflections were found in 38 (71.70%, 38/53) and 45 (39.82%, 45/113) eyes; multiple leak points were identified in 35 (66.03%, 35/53) and 40 (35.40%, 40/113) eyes, respectively. Compared with the non-glucocorticoid-related group, the glucocorticoid-related group had worse BCVA ( Z=-4.984), thicker SFCT ( t=6.586), larger CVV ( t=5.160), higher incidence of FIPED ( χ2=23.908), and greater width and height of FIPED ( t=2.895, Z=-3.703). The glucocorticoid-related group also had a significantly increased incidence of subretinal fibrin, choroidal strong reflections, and multiple leak points, with all differences being statistically significant ( χ2=20.565, 14.663, 13.675; P<0.05); however, the comparison of CMT showed no statistically significant difference ( Z=-0.651, P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with non-glucocorticoid-related CSC, glucocorticoid-related CSC patients have poorer vision, are more likely to affect both eyes, show no gender bias; choroidal vascular dilation is more significant, and damage to the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium is more severe.